We’ve reached the quarterfinal round of the WPIAL girls soccer playoffs.
Ahead of Thursday’s matches in Class 3A and 4A, here’s a quick look at the match-ups, which include three recent WPIAL finals rematches played in the past two years.
QUARTERFINAL ROUND (Thursday, October 29)
Higher seeds will be home team
3A
1 Mars vs 9 Oakland Catholic
Oakland Catholic will have to do even a better job trying to disrupt the flow of the attack than they did at Belle Vernon. The defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Mars has so many ways to do it and it is going to be hard to get the ball let alone getting it out of bounds to get the Eagle’s get organized in their defensive half. This game will see three of the highest level recruits in the WPIAL on the same field.
Oakland Catholic’s Hannah Henn (Michigan State), Mars’ Grace Dunaway (Purdue) and Elle Coffield (Pitt).
This is also a WPIAL Finals rematch from 2018, when Oakland Catholic stunned Mars to win its first-ever WPIAL title.
Led by Sydney Lindeman, Franklin Regional will be deemed the heavy favorite here.
Montour being one of two 13 seeds in the WPIAL to advance. They did it by scoring four goals versus previously unscored upon Connellsville. Montour will be looking to keep Cinderella dancing at the ball.
Plum has it’s eyes on a return trip to the final and it really doesn’t matter who they line up against, they want to play and keep moving towards the goal. To get to the semifinal, Plum will have to beat a familiar section foe, TJ. Plum took both wins against TJ this year, but as the saying goes, it is hard to beat the same team three times in one season.
Hampton might be the quietest 3-seed in all of the WPIAL. They go on about their work and just win. WA brings multiple players who can fill the back of the net.
This has a chance to be the game of the night.
4A
1 Peters Twp vs 8 Seneca Valley
Peters Twp comes into the match rested and ready. They were htting on all cylinders wrapping up the end of the season. Seneca Valley is hoping the time off for Peters Twp will back fire. Seneca Valley put up 7 goals in their first round match up and will want to bring that momentum into this game and early to hopefully get the Indians on their heels.
These two schools met in the 2018 WPIAL final, with Seneca Valley stunning Peters with a goal in the final minute of the match to tie it, then scoring quickly in the overtime period.
North Allegheny and Norwin are meeting for the 4th time in three years in the playoffs and this is a rematch of last year’s WPIAL final. Plus add in their out of conference matches every year, these teams know each other. NA won 2-1 in an early game this season. This game is loaded with talent and 6 DI commits between the two schools.
The secret is out on Butler, they are a good team in a tough section. Now with a target on their back instead of the underdog roll, how will they react to their first game in the playoffs? USC coming in from no easy section either. The Panthers are battled tested and will look to take that to the Golden Tornadoes.
A great match between two quality teams. Fox Chapel moved sections and showed it doesnt matter where they play earning section champs in year one. Moon who may have started rusty is playing quality soccer right now. This could be a great chess match being played.